Dan Hillier
Often regarded as one of the best kept secrets of the math and post rock UK underground, Midlands math rockers A-Tota-So are back but in a way that you might not remember them as. During a time when Covid battered the UK, A-Tota-So battened down the hatches and entered somewhat of a metamorphosis, shifting into an entity that’s still inherently one of their DNA, but still new and evolved. Now as the gears of the live music circuit shift back into activity, the band have emerged and are showing off their new stature in the form of new single ‘I Am’. Featuring Aisling Whiting of art-rockers Sang Froid, the single is a brilliant and composed prog track that retains the band’s own homecooked take on the genre in a way that’s fresh and inspired, and furthermore, teases the group’s new record Lights Out. Releasing March 11th via bUTTONpUSHER, Lights Out see’s the band departing from their purely instrumental nature; each respective track on the record seeing the band enlisting a different vocalist, with the album confirmed to be featuring the talents of Damien Sayell (The Saint Pierre Snake Invasion / Mclusky), Ashley Tubb (Sugar Horse), Ellie Godwin (No Violet) and Jake O’Driscoll (God Alone), among others. As ‘I Am’ alludes to, Lights Out is poised to be a full bodied celebration of the talent of the math, prog and post scene and simply an utter mates fest of a record. – Dan Hillier
Bob Vylan are irrefutably one of the most in demand and culturally crucial names in the UK scene right now, and as proven with their new single ‘GDP’, they clearly have no signs of taking a foot off the accelerator. Taken from their upcoming record Bob Vylan Presents The Price Of Life and dropping in the short time between their tours with Biffy Clyro and The Offspring, ‘GDP’ is an encapsulation of both the band’s bombastic approach and the concepts that drive them to create art that crosses dimensions and subcultures.”This single explores a lot of the topics we’re known for”, states Bobbie Vylan. “Racism, class, social struggles in a way that may not be so obvious on first listen but when you hear lines about friends being stabbed because they come from a place and live a lifestyle that encourages violence to get what you want, you can’t help but ask yourself “well how did that environment begin?”. The chorus tells you outright, “what good is talking about the GDP if I’m struggling to get by?” – Dan Hillier
A product of the scene that gave life to trailblazing acts such as CLT DRP, DITZ and Beach Riot, the only way to even remotely pinpoint Brighton’s LibraLibra is to describe them as a somewhat of a wrecking ball. Not only are unstoppably energetic to the point where attempting to halt them would result in self-annihilation, the Brighton exist to enthusiastically dismantle all before them; genre, authority and societal identity norms are all violently deconstructed within their chaotic and confrontational sound. ‘Candy Mountain’ – the group’s latest single – showcases brilliantly, with the track eroding the comfort and stability of convention in a way that’s thrilling and all-inclusive. Reminiscent of acts such as the aforementioned CLT DRP, Nova Twins and even Bjork, the track is a raging jolt of noise-pop that’s just slightly grounded with glittery pop hooks and a nonconformist bounce. There’s a lot to analyse within their sound and this single, but to do so utterly render the point of the single redundant. Much like their peers, LibraLibra are a violent sugar rush of flexibility and energy, one that’s haplessly lovable and invigorating. – Dan Hillier
Rolo Tomassi have spent nearly two decades at the front of the pack, constantly pushing themselves and evolving their sound from its raucous mathcore beginnings to 2018’s career-best Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It. Alongside announcing its followup, Where Myth Becomes Memory, they’ve released ‘Drip; a brand new single taken from it. Fusing furious, abrasive guitars and acerbic screams with twinkling piano and emotionally fraught melodic passages, it’s one of the most forward-thinking singles of the year. At once immediately identifiable as them while still pushing them into their next chapter, it continues their proud tradition of being one of the most progressively minded bands on the planet.- Will Marshall
Never the one to sit idle for even a fleeting moment of time, the dapper troubadour is back with another single in the form of ‘Television Is Not Your Life’. Recorded and performed in a single take with no overdubs, the track see’s Jamie Lenman dipping his toes into loops in a way that’s a career first, yet still unmistakably identifiable. “This song has actually been around since before the first Reuben album, which is why it maybe has that familiar sound”, states Lenman. “I always meant to get it out but it always seemed to miss its turn, and then when I was looking for a song that was simple enough for the loop idea, there it was. I had to pare it back to make it work with the tricky concept but I think it still hangs together, even without the video. A nice sentiment too – lots of people act like they’re living in some schlocky daytime serial when the reality is that there’s no need for all that drama.” – Dan Hillier
UK based post-hardcore rockers Pale have dropped their single ‘Litany’ this week. Unearthing sorrowful pneuma the band hope to encapsulate an essence of heart-break with ‘Litany’ and, in their own words, aim to shine a light on the endless endeavour, the feeling as though reality is a rerun of the same morose events. “It is the darkest places of the mind tearing apart at the remainder of sanity until it takes full control…” Says Reece Banks (Vocalist) “… I feel you either break the sequence which seems impossible, or you learn to love it, which is the part I feared the most. I really want people to see this track as the thing that helps them break the sequence”. Dripping with ambience the song builds through to a climatic crescendo over its 4 and a half minute run time. Within the final minute the full energy of Pale is unleashed and the track fires off all cylinders with quite the pay off. Beautifully executed, tremendously atmospheric and emotionally raw. Fans of Holding Absence or Loathe are going to love this. – Jac Holloway
One of the most exciting prospects in the UK’s burgeoning underground, sludge metallers Tuskar have announced their debut album Matriarch (out February 22 on cult tastemaker label Church Road Records) and its first single, ‘Graves’. Recalling the sludgier days of Baroness and Mastodon, its dense, brooding soundscapes drag listeners into its murky depths. Slow, bludgeoning guitars are the order of the day, along with growled vocals that occasionally move into more melodic territory. Tuskar ramp up the intensity occasionally with faster passages that hit like repeat sledgehammer blows, before moving back into a tar-thick groove that New Orleans would be proud of. An incredibly promising statement of things to come. – Will Marshall